Neglectful Care (including bed sores)

Neglectful Care (Pressure Sores)

Not being properly taken care of, not being provided with enough food and drink, leaving you without help to wash and change when dirty or wet, and not making sure you have the right medicines all constitute neglect. We all have the right to live in safety but more often than not the person or persons causing the neglect is someone you know or someone you place your trust in such as health care professionals. Hospitals and other care providers have a duty of care to their patients and they therefore must do everything they can to ensure their patients remain safe and comfortable. When this responsibility is neglected the effects can be devastating and dangerous, especially with the vulnerable.

Patients who are confined to a bed or sit in a chair or wheelchair for long periods of time are prone to pressure ulcers (also known as pressure sores or bed sores). When someone spends too long in one position because of a mobility issue or advanced age, without being moved the supply of blood to the skin in the area under pressure is reduced. This reduced blood flow causes the skin to break down leading to open sores. The degree of skin and tissue damage ranges from red, swollen unbroken skin to deep injuries exposing muscle and bone resulting in several associated complications. Pressure sores, therefore fall into several stages based on their depth and severity. 

The onus on hospitals and care providers is to ensure there is an appropriate plan in place to monitor patients and undertake regular risk assessments for those recovering from illness or surgery therefore allowing medical staff to carry out preventative measures such as repositioning regularly, cleansing the skin and maintaining a good fluid intake.

If you or a loved one is admitted to hospital you should expect the highest level of care and thankfully you will normally receive just that, however if negligence occurs and pressure sores develop when could have been prevented then you could be in a position to pursue compensation. Our experienced professional team will help with the minimum of fuss.

Contact us today for free, no obligation advice regarding your neglectful care claim – either by calling us free on 0800 122 3130, or by requesting a free call back, whereby one of our team will contact you at a time of your choice, to discuss your situation.

We’re here to help – contact us today.